Big river poker game

ABSTRACT

A poker type card game includes a betting structure that allows players an opportunity to choose between various denominations to be bet in a final round of wagering. The game shifts the pot odds such that a beginning poker player may more effectively participate against a more experienced player. The game is played such that a greater element of bluffing is introduced into the game.

There are no related patent applications.

This application did not receive federal research and developmentfunding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Poker is a game of chance that includes skill and psychology. A certainamount of uncertainty is realized during a hand of poker. However,players may employee mathematic skills to determine the probability ofbuilding a desired winning hand. This probability is known as the “potodds”. Players may also observe and analyze the body language of anotherplayer in an attempt to read an opponent's hand. Many times unconsciousactions by a player will give away the strength of the player's hand.Thus, psychology may come into play when bluffing or reading otherplayers to determine the strength of their hand.

Professional poker players not only use pot odds and an opponent's bodylanguage when deciding whether to continue with playing a hand, but theyalso conduct a risk assessment analysis to recognize opportunities wherethey can maximize their bet by calling more money into the pot than theyare actually betting. Thus, professional poker players seekopportunities where they can potentially gain more from their placed betthan the amount of that they are risking. In other words, they searchfor favorable opportunities where their risk is small and the return isgreat.

A game of poker is played with a pack or deck of fifty-two cards. Thecards are ranked from high to low. Each deck of cards includes foursuits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. Poker hands comprise fivecards with the highest hand winning. Wins are ranked from high to lowand include a five-of-a-kind, straight flush, four-of-a-kind, fullhouse, flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, two pairs, a pair, and a highcard.

A five-of-a-kind is the highest possible hand that includes five of thesame rated cards. A five-of-a-kind is only possible when wild cards areintroduced into the game. If more than one player has a five-of-a-kind,the higher cards win. For example, five aces beat five kings.

A straight flush is a straight of five cards of the same suit insequential numerical order, for example, 2-3-4-5-6 that are all spades.An ace-high straight flush is called a Royal Flush and is the highestnatural hand.

A four-of-a-kind is simply four cards of the same rank. If there are twoor more hands that qualify as a four-of-a-kind, then the highestfour-of-a-kind wins.

A full house is a three-of-a-kind and a pair, for example, three kingsand a pair of nines. If multiple hands qualify as full houses, thewinner has the highest three-of-a-kind. If two three-of-a-kinds are thesame rank, then the highest pair wins. For example, three aces and apair of nines beat three kings and a pair of tens.

Other hands include a flush, a straight, three-of-a-kind and pairs. Aflush is a hand where all the cards are the same suit. The cards are notin sequential numerical order. A straight is a hand where cards are innumerical order, but the cards are not of the same suit. Athree-of-a-kind is three cards of the same rank. Two pair is two pairsof cards of the same rank; whereas, a pair has one pair of cards thatare the same rank. If none of the previously referenced hands is held bya player who has not already folded, the highest card is used todetermine the winner of a hand.

To understand the invention, some terms are defined hereinafter:

“Bet” refers to a wager on an outcome of an event or contest. In thisinstance, chips or other token articles are wagered on the outcome of ahand.

“Blind” refers to a forced bet (or partial bet) put in by one or moreplayers before any cards are dealt. Typically, blinds are placed byplayers immediately to the left of the button. In most Hold'em stylepoker games, wagering is started with one or two “blind” bets to theleft of the dealer.

“Button” is a white acrylic disk to indicate the dealer. In games hostedby casinos and poker rooms, typically the dealer is an employee of thehost. In these games, the player left of the player with the buttonopens a round of betting.

“Call” is to place an amount of chips in the pot equal to the previousamount bet.

“Check” is a nonzero bet equaling a preceding bet to maintain a player'sinterest in the pot.

“Community cards” are cards that are dealt face up and may be used byany participating player in building a hand.

“No-limit” poker is played where the amount bet in each round is aminimum bet amount with no limit on the amount raised except what theplayer has on the table. In a no-limit poker game, a player may go “allin” and bet the entire amount of chips that he has on the table. Casinoswant poker games to last for longer periods because they get a portionof the pot for each hand played. Thus, the more hands played yields moremoney for the host. Usually, this type of game is not played in casinosand poker rooms because of the likelihood that the players will lose allof their money quickly. However, many tournament structures use no-limitpoker to eliminate players quickly.

“Fold” means to not match the bet in the pot and forfeit the hand.

“Hole” or “Pocket” cards are cards dealt face down to each player at thebeginning of each hand.

“Pot limit” poker is different from no-limit poker in that the maximumamount of money by which the player may raise the pot is the size of theexisting pot after the player has called any previous bets. In this typeof game, many players may lose their money quickly. It is thereforeunfavorable for casinos to run this type of game.

“Limit” poker is widely used by casinos because of the structuredbetting and simple rules. The game involves the same rounds of betting,but the rounds are limited in the amounts bet. For example, in a 10/20game, the small blind would be $10 and the big blind would be $10. Thefirst player to act would call $10, raise $10, or fold. This continuesuntil the action reaches the first player that first bet the smallblind. He has the same options. He may call, raise or fold; but, if hefolds, he loses his first small blind to the pot. After three communitycards are dealt, the betting begins again with the small blind actingfirst. His choices include checking, betting or folding, as previouslydiscussed. If he chooses to bet $10, he could do so. He cannot bet anyother amount than $10. This second betting round continues as the firstround. The fourth card is then shown. This starts a third new round ofbetting but the amount that may now be bet can only be $20. After theround is completed and if any players are left, a fifth community cardis dealt. A final betting round of $20 commences followed by a showdownwherein the players must show their hands. Since the betting rounds are$10 and $20, the game is called 10/20. The same would be true if thegame is 4/8. The betting rounds are $4 and $8. The problem with limitpoker is that you cannot readily bluff your opponent, thus the game isalmost completely determined by the “pot odds”. In this instance, theplayers are more often playing against the pot odds than actuallywagering against one another. Since the final bet is the same amount ofunits as the round before, bluffing is nearly impossible in this type ofgame.

“Rake” is the amount of money that a poker room or casino receives fromevery pot for running the game.

“Raise” means to make a bet larger than the previous bet. A raise causesthe original bettor to call the difference or fold.

“Pot odds” refers to the probability analysis to determine whether aplayer will remain in the game. In this analysis, the player comparesthe amount of money in the pot to the amount that he must contribute tothe pot to continue playing a hand of poker. For example, after thecommunity cards are dealt, a player will analyze his hand to determinean appropriate course of action. This is to say he will either have awinning, made hand or want cards to improve his hand. An example of amade hand would be if a player's hand has two kings and the communitycards dealt are king, jack and three. In this instance, the player has athree-of-a-kind. If the player did not have a made hand, he would bedrawing. The player uses the pot odds to determine whether he shouldcall or fold. In determining the pot odds, he counts the number of outsthat he has. An out is a card that makes his hand. For example, if hishand is a king, jack and the board includes a queen, ten and seven, thenhis odds of building a straight are four aces and four nines that equaleight outs. To calculate a player's percentage of hitting an out, thetotal number of outs is multiplied by 2 and 2 is added (# of outs×2+2).After calculating the percentage of hitting an out, a player multipliesthe result by the size of the pot to obtain the maximum bet that he cancall.

In the above example, the player has eight outs and therefore about an18% chance of receiving a favorable community card. If the pot is $100and the player must call $10; he should because he can call up to $18(18%×$100.00), but the cost is only a $10 bet. However, if the bet tothe player is $25, he might fold, because that would require a 25%chance of hitting to have even odds on winning the hand. When having an18% chance of receiving a helpful card with a pot size of $100.00 and abet of $10.00, a professional poker player will call the $10.00 andremain in the game because he has recognized an opportunity to gain morethan he is risking.

“Flops” are the first three community cards shown face up in the middleof a poker table. All of the participating players may use communitycards to build a hand.

“Turn” is the fourth community card shown face up in the middle of thepoker table and may be used by all of the participating players.

“River” is the last community card shown face up in the middle of thepoker table and may be used by all participating players.

The following is an example of a limit Texas hold-em poker game. Thegame comprises several players. The dealer deals each player two cardsface down. These cards are known as the hole cards. Each player can viewonly his own cards. One or more of the players to the left of the buttonor dealer may be required to place a blind bet before viewing theircards. Thereafter, a first round of betting ensues for the remainingplayers. The dealer then flops or throws three community cards face uponto the table. A second round of betting ensues among the participatingplayers. The dealer then deals a fourth card face up on the table. Athird round of betting ensues. The dealer turns over one final communitycard face up on the table. A fourth and final betting round ensues. Theplayers then show their hands in the showdown. The best hand wins.

During the four betting rounds for this game, each bet in the first tworounds of betting is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. Forexample, in a 5/10 game, the denomination of all bets and raises are $5for the first two rounds. The denomination of the last two rounds ofbetting are set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. In a 5/10game, the denomination of all bets and raises are $10 for the last tworounds. Whatever amount bet in a game requires further calls or raisesto be at least a multiple of the amount bet, since you cannot under betin any structured poker game. That is to say, if a $10 bet is placed,then other participating players must call the betting player with a $10bet or call and raise the player with a $20 bet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a new structure or manner of playing a poker-style gameincluding wagering that involves a greater amount of skill andpsychology than merely reading the pot odds as in prior art games. Therules of limit poker as described above, before the flop, apply to thisgame. Likewise, after the flop and with the turning of the fourthcommunity card, the same rules still apply. However, the betting orstakes structure changes after the turning of the river card. In thepresent invention, a participating player has an option of choosing tobet various amounts or denominations in the final round of betting. Forexample, if the game is 10/20/100, then the first and second round ofbetting is $10. The third round of betting occurs after the flop of thefourth community card and requires a betting round of $20. The finalcard shown starts a round of betting of either $20 or $100.

If a player chooses to bet $100 in the final round, then further betsand raises have to be $100, since an under bet cannot be placed in anystructured poker game. This final option of allowing a participatingplayer to select between different betting amounts achieves asynergistic effect that provides more excitement and dramaticallychanges the strategy of the game.

For example, a participating player now has a choice of betting $20 or$100 in the final round of betting. He may be bluffing or simply bettinga strong hand. By allowing an option of betting various amounts in thefinal round of betting, it is easily recognized that the pot odds maychange drastically.

There are now more chances to draw to a hand as the option allows abigger reward at the end of action. There is a huge change in pot oddsin the first three rounds of betting when considering the final optionbet. In a normal limit game, on the turn a player might not draw to aflush, but in this game the player has a solid draw. In addition,players may now play more starting hands, and in particular drawinghands, whereas, in limit poker, using the previously described rules, aplayer is limited to a very few solid hands if he wants to win at theend of the session. The strategy is of the instant game is more like potlimit, but a player cannot be pushed out of a hand early, as there areno pot raises to overcome.

The present invention is a method of playing a wagering card game, theobject of which is to build the highest possible poker hand. The methodutilizes a card-dealer to deal cards. Participating players wagesequentially place wagers. The method comprises the steps of dealing twocards face down to each player. Each one of the plurality of playersplaces a wager of a first denomination. The card-dealer deals communitycards face up. Typically, three community cards are dealt. Each one ofthe players performs one or more of the following actions that includesfolding, calling, checking and raising an amount equal to a firstdenomination or wager amount. The card-dealer deals another communitycard face up. Each of the plurality of players performs one or more ofthe following actions selected from a group consisting of folding,calling, checking and raising a second denomination that is greater thanthe first denomination. The card-dealer deals a final community cardface up. Each of said plurality of players performs a final round of oneor more of the following actions selected from a group consisting offolding, calling, checking and raising an amount equal to or greaterthan the second denomination.

The method may further include one or more of the plurality of playersplacing a blind bet after being dealt the two cards face down. Thewagered amount of the second denomination may be double that of thefirst denomination. A third denomination of wagering might be a multipleof the second denomination. The third denomination may be five timesgreater than the second denomination or alternatively, ten times greaterthan that of the first denomination.

The method of playing the wagering card game of the present inventionmight include building the highest possible poker hand. The method mayinclude dealing two cards face down to each participating player. One ormore of each participating places a first wager. Three community cardsare dealt face up. One or more of each participating player places asecond wager equal in denomination to the first wager. A fourthcommunity card is dealt face up. One or more of each participatingplayer places a third wager greater in denomination that the firstwager. A fifth community card is dealt face up. One or more of eachparticipating player places a final wager equal to or greater in valuethan the third wager. The method may further include each of saidparticipating player performing one or more of the following actionsselected from a group consisting of folding, calling, checking andraising a wager. The method may include one or more of said playersplacing a blind bet after being dealt two cards face down.

The present game is unique in accomplishing four things. First, thestrategy in the starting cards is drastically changed. Second, thepresent game allows a good player to overcome the casino rake to earnmore money. Third, this game allows a casino or a poker room to run agame that is has a feel of no limit poker, without having the number ofbust outs while raking like limit poker. Fourth, the instant game alsocontains a real bluffing bet, which keeps the flavor no limit poker inthe game. The pot odds in the instant game can drastically changebecause of the implied options bet on the last card. That is to say, aplayer may now draw in more instances than if he were playing in a priorart type limit poker game.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide of playing awagering card game that introduces a greater amount of skill andbluffing than prior art wagering limit poker-style card games.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a poker gamethat reduces any advantages that a professional player may have over anonprofessional player. The pot odds dramatically change with theintroduction of multiple betting denominations in the final round ofbetting. Thus, professional poker players cannot rely upon the pot oddsas in the past. Nonprofessional players who are unaware of the conceptof using pot odds to determine whether to continue playing a hand aretherefore less affected by another player's calculation of pot odds.

It is a further object of the invention provide a limit type poker gamethat introduces a greater amount of skill into a poker game of thepresent invention by requiring players to concentrate more on otherplayers' abilities and less on the pot odds while playing a hand. Theplaying field is therefore leveled between professional andnonprofessional players.

It is another object of the invention to provide a limit style pokergame that increases the revenues of participating players withoutcutting the amount of rake that a casino or poker room realizes. Thepresent game may be played in casinos without increasing the risk thatplayers will bust out early and leave the poker game resulting in lessrevenues being generated. Players are more likely to stay in a game andcontinue betting since the pot odds are greatly influenced by the finalbet.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a wagering cardgame which appeals to poker players and which encourages new players.Poker players are attracted to the game because it increases the amountof money that may be gained in a single hand of poker.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a game that increasesthe revenues of players realized at each table by providing at least twodifferent betting denominations in the final round of betting.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbe set forth in part of the description which follow, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing specification and claims or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing the flow of play of a prior artgame of limit poker.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing flow of play of the instant game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a method of playing a prior art hold-em poker game.Each player places a low wager to start the game. In a 10/20 game, thiswager is ten dollars for the first two hands and twenty dollars for thefinal two rounds. Next, the dealer deals two cards facedown to eachplayer. The dealer then deals three community cards face up. Playersthen play a second low wager. The dealer then deals a fourth communitycard. Players place a high wager. The dealer deals the final card andthe players place a final wager before laying their hands down. At anypoint during the wagering rounds, a player may fold his hand anddiscontinue participating in that round of poker.

FIG. 2 depicts the method of playing the instant game. The steps ofplaying the game are similar to those of the game shown in FIG. 1 untilthe river card is displayed. After the river card has been dealt, theopening player may opt to either chose a wager denomination equal tothat of the previous round or alternatively choose a higher wager tobet. In other words, the opening player may bet the same amount bet inthe previous round of betting after the fourth community card isdisplayed. Or, he may bet a higher denomination. Allowing the playerthis option causes the other players to rely less on pot odds whendetermining whether to remain in a hand. This is more easily realizedwhen viewing table 1 wherein a 10/20/100 game is being played. TABLE 1Number of Players Betting Round Pot Size Can Call 5 1 $50.00 9.0 3 2$80.00 14.4 3 3 $140.00 25.2 3 4 $200.00 36.0 3 4 $500.00 90.0

Table 1 is representative of a hand of poker played. As is shown above,the size of the amount that can be called changes dramatically byintroducing the final betting options for the present game. For purposesof discussion, the table reflects the example used above with respect tothe pot odds. In this example, the “Can Call” column represents theplayer mentioned previously who has eight outs and is sitting to theimmediate right of the button. For ease in understanding changesassociated with changing the final betting option, it is assumed thatthis player does not draw any favorable cards throughout the round ofpoker.

The dealer deals each player two cards face down. The player to the leftof the button looks at his hand to determine whether to place a wager.The player places a wager and a round of betting ensues. Each remainingplayer places a $10.00 wager to remain in the game. The total pot sizeis $50.00. At this point, player can call $9.00 into the pot with a$10.00 bet.

Three community cards are dealt by the dealer face up on the table and asecond round of betting ensues. Two of the participating players foldtheir hands; while the remaining three players each place a $10.00wager. The pot size now equals $80.00. With a $10.00 bet, the player cancall $14.40 so he continues to play.

Next, the dealer deals a fourth community card that is displayed face upon the table. A third round of betting ensues. Each player now places awager of $20.00 to remain in the hand. The pot now equals $140.00. Theplayer can now call $25.20 into the pot for every $20.00 bet.

The river card is dealt and the final round of wagering begins. Theplayer is given the option of betting either $20.00 or $100.00. If eachplayer remains in the game and no one raises, the player can call $36.00into the pot for his $20.00 bet. If the player elects to place a wagerof $100.00, then he is actually betting against himself in that he cannow only call $90.00 into the pot for every $100.00 that he bets. Byplacing a larger wager, he may be able to force the other remainingplayers from the game.

As can be readily recognized from the example above, the pot odds changedramatically when an option of placing a very high wager is presented.Thus, the professional poker player cannot rely as heavily on the potodds when this option is presented as part of the game.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, itwill be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and thatmany obvious modifications and variations can be mad that will fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A method of playing a wagering card game, the object of which is tobuild the highest possible poker hand, said method utilizing acard-dealer, wherein participants playing the wagering card game are aplurality of players that sequentially place wagers, said methodcomprising the steps of: said card-dealer dealing two cards face down toeach of said plurality of players that has placed a wager; each of saidplurality of players placing a wager of a first denomination; saidcard-dealer dealing community cards face up; each of said plurality ofplayers performing one or more of the following actions selected from agroup consisting of folding, calling, checking and raising an amountequal to the first denomination; said card-dealer dealing anothercommunity card face up; each of said plurality of players performing oneor more of the following actions selected from a group consisting offolding, calling, checking and raising a second denomination greaterthan the first denomination; said card-dealer dealing a final communitycard face up; and, each of said plurality of players performing a finalround of one or more of the following actions selected from a groupconsisting of folding, calling, checking and raising an amount equal toor greater than the second denomination.
 2. The method of claim 1further comprising one or more of said plurality of players placing ablind bet after being dealt the two cards face down.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising wagering a second denomination that is doublethe first denomination.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprisingwagering a third denomination that is a multiple of the seconddenomination.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising wagering athird denomination that is five times greater than the seconddenomination.
 6. A method of playing a wagering card game, the object ofwhich is to build the highest possible poker hand, said methodcomprising: dealing two cards face down to each participating player;one or more of each participating placing a first wager; dealing threecommunity cards face up; one or more of each participating playerplacing a second wager equal in denomination to the first wager; dealinga fourth community card face up; one or more of each participatingplayer placing a third wager greater in denomination that the firstwager; dealing a fifth community card face up; one or more of eachparticipating player placing a final wager equal to or greater in valuethan the third wager.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: eachof said participating player performing one or more of the followingactions selected from a group consisting of folding, calling, checkingand raising a wager.
 8. The method of claim 6 further comprising one ormore of said players placing a blind bet after being dealt two cardsface down.